A Debate; Believing A Debate; Believing in God is in God is

psychologically psychologically healthyhealthy

Kristin NomidesKristin NomidesCourtney HolbrookCourtney Holbrook

Aaron SmithAaron SmithStephanie RezacStephanie RezacAshley WalkerAshley Walker

Round 1!Round 1!ProPro

Believing in God is Believing in God is psychologically psychologically

HealthyHealthy!!

Health Benefits of Health Benefits of ReligionReligion

Above average longevityAbove average longevity Fewer strokesFewer strokes Less heart diseaseLess heart disease Less clinical depression Less clinical depression Better immune system functionBetter immune system function Fewer anxiety attacksFewer anxiety attacks Less likely to commit suicideLess likely to commit suicide

Studies Show:Studies Show: Survey of demography of 21,000 Survey of demography of 21,000

Americans Americans Those who never attend church have 50% Those who never attend church have 50%

higher risk of mortality (ncpa.org)higher risk of mortality (ncpa.org) 1001 health effects studies show1001 health effects studies show

Significant relationship between worship Significant relationship between worship service attendance and improved healthservice attendance and improved health

““Lack of religious involvement has an Lack of religious involvement has an effect on mortality equivalent to 40 years effect on mortality equivalent to 40 years of smoking 1 pack of cigarettes per day” of smoking 1 pack of cigarettes per day” said Koenig (ncpa.org)said Koenig (ncpa.org)

Studies continuedStudies continued University of Texas researches University of Texas researches

found…found… Regular church attendees lived an Regular church attendees lived an

average of seven years longer than average of seven years longer than those who never attended! (ncpa.org)those who never attended! (ncpa.org)

Life Expectancy and Life Expectancy and Religious AttendanceReligious Attendance

(Myers)(Myers)

Reasons for longer lifeReasons for longer life BeliefsBeliefs of religiously active people of religiously active people

motivate healthier lifestylesmotivate healthier lifestyles Smoke and drink lessSmoke and drink less Some are vegetarianSome are vegetarian Orthodox Israelites intake less fat than Orthodox Israelites intake less fat than

other non-religious people (Myers)other non-religious people (Myers)

Religious InvolvementReligious Involvement People that are more religiously involved People that are more religiously involved

are mentally and physically healthierare mentally and physically healthier Better at coping with illnessBetter at coping with illness Lower blood pressure (Abrams)Lower blood pressure (Abrams)

"If a person is already involved in religion, they "If a person is already involved in religion, they can at least be assured that these activities can at least be assured that these activities are not going to harm their health but can are not going to harm their health but can lead to happier and healthier life." (Parker)lead to happier and healthier life." (Parker)

Health of Religious Health of Religious PeoplePeople

Recover fasterRecover faster Generally handle life's ups Generally handle life's ups

and downs with less physical and downs with less physical reactions reactions (dukemednews.org)(dukemednews.org)

““Even the skeptics, Koenig says, should Even the skeptics, Koenig says, should pay attention to his latest findings, pay attention to his latest findings, since, in practical terms, it means less since, in practical terms, it means less expense for insurance companies and expense for insurance companies and hospitals.” hospitals.”

More ReasonsMore ReasonsSocial supportSocial support

Christianity, Islam and Judaism are Christianity, Islam and Judaism are communal religionscommunal religions

Satisfies human need to belong Satisfies human need to belong (Myers)(Myers)

Still more reasonsStill more reasons A sense of hope for the long-term A sense of hope for the long-term

futurefuture Feelings of ultimate acceptanceFeelings of ultimate acceptance Relaxed meditation of prayer and Relaxed meditation of prayer and

Sabbath observanceSabbath observance

Religiously active people have healthier Religiously active people have healthier immune functioning and fewer hospitals immune functioning and fewer hospitals admissions (Myers)admissions (Myers)

Chart of Reasons Chart of Reasons

(Myers)(Myers)

Round 2!Round 2!ConCon

Believing in God is Believing in God is psychologically psychologically unhealthyunhealthy

Religious Religious JustificationJustification

•In Extreme cases people are In Extreme cases people are willing to kill or die for religionwilling to kill or die for religion

•Religion numbs people against Religion numbs people against all appeals to pity, forgiveness, or all appeals to pity, forgiveness, or

decent human feelingsdecent human feelings

Holy Bible

Richard Dawkins – The Selfish Gene

Examples of Religious Examples of Religious JustificationJustification

• 1987 1987 The suicide of 913 followers of Jim Jones in the The suicide of 913 followers of Jim Jones in the Jungles of GuyanaJungles of Guyana

• 1990 1990 the death of more than 2000 people when the death of more than 2000 people when Hindu fundamentalists in Ayodhya tore down a 16Hindu fundamentalists in Ayodhya tore down a 16 thth century mosque that they believed was built on the century mosque that they believed was built on the birth site of Lord Ramabirth site of Lord Rama

• 1993 1993 the death of 6 people and the injury of more the death of 6 people and the injury of more than 1000 in the bombing of the World Trade Center in than 1000 in the bombing of the World Trade Center in the NYC by individuals associated with Islamic the NYC by individuals associated with Islamic fundamentalismfundamentalism

• 1994 1994 the mass suicide – murder of 53 members of the mass suicide – murder of 53 members of the doomsday cult order of the Solar Temple, and then the doomsday cult order of the Solar Temple, and then 16 more including 3 children the following year16 more including 3 children the following year

• 2001 2001 September 11 September 11th – th – the seizure of American the seizure of American planes which added in the attack on the world trade planes which added in the attack on the world trade buildings and the pentagon.buildings and the pentagon.

Richard Dawkins – The Selfish Gene

Unhealthy PersuasionUnhealthy PersuasionThe Promise ofThe Promise of

HELLHELL“…“…many children and even some adults many children and even some adults

believe they will suffer ghastly believe they will suffer ghastly torments after death if they do not torments after death if they do not obey the priestly rules..”obey the priestly rules..”Richard Dawkins- The Selfish GenesRichard Dawkins- The Selfish Genes

Causes Great Psychological AnguishCauses Great Psychological Anguish

Religion and Human Religion and Human SavagerySavagery

Religion and its practices is the last refuge Religion and its practices is the last refuge for savage practices such as:for savage practices such as:Human SacrificeHuman SacrificeSlaughter of ChildrenSlaughter of ChildrenSensual OrgiesSensual OrgiesObject SuperstitionObject SuperstitionHatred Between Races (KKK)Hatred Between Races (KKK)Maintenance of degrading costumesMaintenance of degrading costumesHysteriaHysteriaBigotry Bigotry

Alfred North Whitehead

Children and ReligionChildren and ReligionMyth Vs. RealityMyth Vs. Reality

Should parents bring their Should parents bring their children up with religion?children up with religion?

• Children are impressionableChildren are impressionable• Children should be taught religion as a Children should be taught religion as a

myth so that they can be allowed to myth so that they can be allowed to outgrow the myths with time if they want outgrow the myths with time if they want to. to.

Timothy J. Madigon

The “Get out of Jail Free” The “Get out of Jail Free” God CardGod Card

People of God can get away with People of God can get away with moremore

They can run heath care systems that They can run heath care systems that can refuse medicine to womencan refuse medicine to women

Birth controlBirth controlAbortionsAbortions

Total sex discriminationTotal sex discriminationSome churches do not allow women priests Some churches do not allow women priests

Torturing and KillingTorturing and KillingIslamic WorldIslamic World

Katha Pollitt

Ecclesiogenic Neuroses Ecclesiogenic Neuroses Church-related abstinent practices Church-related abstinent practices

and enforcement can lead to and enforcement can lead to ““secrecy, prohibitions, and secrecy, prohibitions, and

threatsthreats” which can further lead to a ” which can further lead to a mental disorder known as mental disorder known as

““ecclesiogenic neurosesecclesiogenic neuroses””Eberhard Schaetzing

Religious SchizophreniaReligious Schizophrenia It has been documented that some It has been documented that some

religious practices lead to a psychotic religious practices lead to a psychotic break, otherwise known as break, otherwise known as schizophreniaschizophrenia Example:Example:

Bratslav Hasidism, an ultraorthodox sect in Bratslav Hasidism, an ultraorthodox sect in Israel and NY, has isolated and paranoid Israel and NY, has isolated and paranoid individuals. Their participation in the sect’s individuals. Their participation in the sect’s unusual practices, such as praying at night at unusual practices, such as praying at night at the tombs of spiritual leaders, can finally bring the tombs of spiritual leaders, can finally bring about the psychotic break about the psychotic break Bernard Spilka and Paul

Werme

Works CitedWorks Cited AbramsVivi. “A Healthy Spirit Researcher sees link between good health, religious AbramsVivi. “A Healthy Spirit Researcher sees link between good health, religious

involvement.” involvement.” Lexis-NexisLexis-Nexis. 26 Apr. 2004. The Birmingham News. 17 Oct. 2004 . 26 Apr. 2004. The Birmingham News. 17 Oct. 2004 <http://0-web.lexis-nexis.com >.<http://0-web.lexis-nexis.com >.

Dawkins, Richard. Dawkins, Richard. The Selfish GeneThe Selfish Gene. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989. Easterbrook, Greg. “Religion is Good for your Health.” Easterbrook, Greg. “Religion is Good for your Health.” National Center for Policy National Center for Policy

AnalysisAnalysis. 17 Oct. 2004. 17 Oct. 2004< http://www.ncpa.org>.< http://www.ncpa.org>.

Madigon, Timothy J. “Filling a Child’s Head with Nonsense.” Free Inquiry: 1994. Madigon, Timothy J. “Filling a Child’s Head with Nonsense.” Free Inquiry: 1994. More Evidence that Religion is HealthyMore Evidence that Religion is Healthy. 25 Dec.. 25 Dec.

1998. Dukemed. 17 Oct. 20041998. Dukemed. 17 Oct. 2004< http://www.dukemednews.org >.< http://www.dukemednews.org >.

Myers, David G. “On Assessing prayer, Faith and Health.” Myers, David G. “On Assessing prayer, Faith and Health.” Resources on Resources on psychology and religionpsychology and religion. 2000. 17 Oct. 2004. . 2000. 17 Oct. 2004. < http://www.davidmyers.org>. < http://www.davidmyers.org>.

Pollitt, Katha. “God Changes Everything.” The Nation: 2002.Pollitt, Katha. “God Changes Everything.” The Nation: 2002. Schaetzing, E. Schaetzing, E. Die ekklesiogenen NeurosenDie ekklesiogenen Neurosen. Wege zum Menschen, 1955.. Wege zum Menschen, 1955. Spilka, B., and Werme, P.H. Spilka, B., and Werme, P.H. Religion and Mental Disorder: A Research Religion and Mental Disorder: A Research

PerspectivePerspective. 1971.. 1971. Whitehead, A.N. Whitehead, A.N. Religion in the MakingReligion in the Making. New York: Macmillian, 1926.. New York: Macmillian, 1926.